A reflection on Shavuot by Rabbi Igor Zinkov (The Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London)

Each festival can be a pedagogical tool for raising important questions and inspiring people to become better human beings. This week, Jewish people celebrate Shavuot. Like many ancient festivals, it has many layers of meaning. On the agricultural level, it corresponds to the grain harvest period. On the level of the Torah narrative, Shavuot signifies the Receiving of the Torah by Moses on Mount Sinai after the Exodus from Egypt. The narrative story of Shavuot inspires me to draw meaning from this festival.
 
There is a strong link between Pesach – the festival of Exodus and liberation - and Shavuot – the celebration of receiving the Torah. 
 
On a ceremonial level, this connection is reflected in the counting of Omer, 49 days semi-mourning period from the second day of Pesach to Shavuot. 
 
How is the idea of freedom connected to receiving the Torah? Jewish thought linked the main ideas of these festivals and concluded that the liberation from Egypt became purposeful only after the Israelites took on responsibility for their own Law at Sinai. 
 
Judaism teaches us that freedom finds its full expression only in our willing commitment to standards of behaviour and action. These standards are not only determined by an individual but a set of rules and principles of our society. In other words, the more freedom we have, the more responsibility we should take. 
 
The Talmud and Josephus called this festival Atzeret, or Atzarta, in Aramaic. While the precise meaning of Atzeret is uncertain, the Bible associates it with the seventh day of Passover (Deuteronomy 16.8) and the eighth day of Sukkot (Leviticus 23.26), where it is translated as “solemn gathering.” It is also interpreted to mean “concluding festival.” Just as the eighth and concluding day of Sukkot is named Shemini Atzeret, so the rabbis deduced that Shavuot should be considered the eighth and concluding day of Passover, even though it is delayed by 49 days. It was later expounded that the Exodus from Egypt, celebrated on Passover, was not entirely fulfilled until the Torah was given on Mount Sinai, commemorated on Shavuot.
 
We live in a world of quick solutions and short attention span. Prompt delivery of goods brought much comfort to our lives. But many things in human life cannot be delivered or fixed quickly. Jewish calendar has a vital message built-in in the period between Pesach and Shavuot. Sometimes the potential can only be realised with time. The festival of liberation is not complete until the festival of law and teaching. The world can, should and must change and improve, but it is important to remember that any improvement takes time. True and holistic freedom can only come with taking time to be patient, learn, and listen.